Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HG 15 031
Apply for RFA HG 15 031
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172 Human Genome Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2015 and posted on Aug 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 27, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses State governments County governments Special district governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HG-15-031) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program, listed under CFDA 93.172 (Human Genome Research), aimed at pushing nucleic acid sequencing beyond the current state of the art. The FOA is centered on creating genuinely new technological approaches for DNA sequencing and, notably, for direct RNA sequencing. The emphasis is not on incremental tweaks, but on enabling new sequencing strategies or achieving major performance leaps that would change what is practical to measure, how fast it can be done, how accurately, and potentially at what cost or scale.
From a technical standpoint, the FOA invites R21 applications that pursue three broad paths. First, applicants may propose entirely new, complete sequencing systems, meaning integrated approaches that could plausibly serve as a next-generation platform rather than a single isolated improvement. Second, applicants may focus on specific bottlenecks or underlying scientific and engineering challenges in key components of novel sequencing systems, such as detection modalities, sample handling, signal processing, chemistries, enzymes, nanopores, optics, electronics, surface science, microfluidics, or other foundational pieces that limit feasibility. Third, applicants may propose improvements to existing sequencing systems, but the bar is intentionally high: the FOA calls for improvements of at least an order of magnitude, signaling that proposals should aim for roughly 10x gains in critical metrics (for example, throughput, read length, accuracy, speed, cost efficiency, or other platform-defining attributes). Across all three paths, the announcement strongly encourages exploration of methods outside those currently in widespread use, reinforcing that unconventional ideas and alternative physics/chemistry/engineering approaches are welcomed.
The program explicitly frames itself as appropriate for high-risk, high-payoff research. In practical terms, that means applicants are expected to propose bold, potentially disruptive concepts that may carry technical uncertainty but could deliver substantial scientific or translational impact if successful. The choice of the R21 mechanism aligns with this intent, since R21 awards are typically used to support early-stage, exploratory, and developmental work that can establish feasibility and generate compelling proof-of-concept data. Projects that could open new measurement regimes (for instance, direct RNA reads with improved fidelity or new ways to read modified bases, long-range information, or dynamic molecular features) fit the spirit of the announcement.
In terms of funding and basic award structure, the FOA lists an estimated total funding amount of $500,000 and an award ceiling of $200,000. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The opportunity was posted on August 17, 2015, with an original and final closing date of August 27, 2017, and an archive date of September 27, 2017, meaning it is no longer open; however, the details remain useful as a model for the kinds of projects NIH seeks to catalyze in sequencing technology development.
Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and a wide range of government entities (city/township, county, state, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). The FOA also includes specific categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain regional and tribal organizations (including tribal governments, with distinctions noted in the eligibility text). On the foreign participation side, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are explicitly not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, “foreign components,” as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which generally means a U.S.-based applicant may include defined foreign elements in the project when scientifically justified and compliant with NIH policy.
Administratively, the sponsoring agency is NIH, and the full announcement is referenced via an NIH grants URL (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-15-031.html). For access or technical issues, the FOA points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV). Overall, the opportunity is designed to seed ambitious sequencing technology advances, particularly those that break from standard approaches and could redefine capabilities for DNA and direct RNA sequencing.
FAQs: Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R21) (RFA-HG-15-031)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R21)" with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HG-15-031. It is associated with CFDA 93.172 (Human Genome Research) and focuses on advancing nucleic acid sequencing technology beyond the current state of the art.
What is the main goal of the FOA?
The central goal is to catalyze genuinely new technological approaches for nucleic acid sequencing, including DNA sequencing and especially direct RNA sequencing. The emphasis is on enabling new sequencing strategies or major performance leaps that could change what is practical to measure, how quickly it can be done, how accurately, and potentially at what cost or scale.
Is this opportunity focused on incremental improvements to existing sequencing platforms?
No. The FOA explicitly deemphasizes incremental tweaks. While improvements to existing systems are allowed, they are expected to be dramatic rather than incremental.
What level of improvement is expected if proposing changes to an existing sequencing system?
The FOA sets a high bar: improvements should be at least an order of magnitude (roughly 10x) in critical metrics such as throughput, read length, accuracy, speed, cost efficiency, or other platform-defining attributes.
What types of projects does the FOA invite?
The FOA invites R21 applications pursuing three broad paths: (1) entirely new, complete sequencing systems (integrated approaches that could plausibly serve as next-generation platforms), (2) solutions targeting key bottlenecks or foundational challenges in components of novel sequencing systems, and (3) major (order-of-magnitude) improvements to existing sequencing systems.
What counts as a "complete sequencing system" under this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, a "complete sequencing system" refers to an integrated approach that could plausibly function as a next-generation sequencing platform, rather than a single isolated improvement or narrow component-level tweak.
What kinds of component-level bottlenecks are in scope?
The FOA highlights foundational scientific and engineering challenges in components such as detection modalities, sample handling, signal processing, chemistries, enzymes, nanopores, optics, electronics, surface science, microfluidics, and other underlying pieces that limit feasibility of novel sequencing systems.
Does the FOA encourage unconventional approaches?
Yes. The announcement strongly encourages exploration of methods outside those currently in widespread use and signals that unconventional physics, chemistry, and engineering approaches are welcome.
Why is the R21 mechanism used for this program?
The R21 mechanism is aligned with early-stage, exploratory, and developmental work. In the FOA's framing, R21 support is appropriate for establishing feasibility and generating proof-of-concept data for bold sequencing technology concepts.
Is this considered high-risk, high-payoff research?
Yes. The FOA explicitly frames the program as appropriate for high-risk, high-payoff research, meaning technically uncertain but potentially disruptive concepts with substantial impact if successful.
What scientific capabilities does the FOA aim to unlock?
As described, the FOA is meant to open new measurement regimes, including advances related to direct RNA reads with improved fidelity and new ways to read modified bases, long-range information, or dynamic molecular features.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the CFDA number and program area?
The FOA is listed under CFDA 93.172, Human Genome Research.
How much total funding is estimated for this FOA?
The FOA lists an estimated total funding amount of $500,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
When was this opportunity posted, and is it still open?
The opportunity was posted on August 17, 2015. The original and final closing date was August 27, 2017, and the archive date was September 27, 2017. This means the FOA is no longer open for applications.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and many government entities (city/township, county, state, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). It also includes categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, AANAPISIs, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain regional and tribal organizations (including tribal governments, with distinctions noted in the eligibility text).
Can a foreign organization apply as the applicant?
No. Foreign organizations and foreign institutions are explicitly not eligible to apply as the applicant organization for this FOA.
Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant organization.
Are foreign components allowed at all?
Yes. "Foreign components," as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This generally means a U.S.-based applicant may include defined foreign elements in the project when scientifically justified and compliant with NIH policy.
Where can the full FOA be found?
The full announcement is referenced at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-15-031.html
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues with the FOA webpage?
The FOA points to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact for access or technical issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV
What is the overall intent of this program even though it is archived?
Even though it is no longer open, the FOA details illustrate the types of ambitious, non-incremental sequencing technology advances NIH aims to seed, particularly approaches that break from standard methods and could redefine capabilities for DNA and direct RNA sequencing.
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